COVID-19 procedures are availablehere. Only Tauck offers family cruising through its Tauck Bridges program. Visit Schloss Hof in Bratislava for chocolate tasting and learn to waltz in the grand ballroom. In 2023, they will launch Seven River Journeys which will cover seven rivers and 14 countries over the course of 45 nights (starting at $24,999 per person, double occupancy). They are composed of floor-to-ceiling windows that drop down halfway at the flick of a switch, and the balconies can be shut off from the main cabin area with folding glass doors. The River Cafe offers light bites from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for everyone, while Table La Rive is an upscale Chef's Table for upper-deck passengers only. Choose Tauck ifyou like open seating and want the choice of having room service and a true alternative dining venue where you can get casual, hot food. For example, on the S.S. BonVoyage in France, the Le Salon Champagne was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's home, Villa Majorelle. Viking River Cruises: What Are Its Smallest, Largest and Most Common Stateroom Sizes? While other river cruise cabins shove your bed against a wall for a view of the other wall, our Comfort Collection Beds SM beds face the widest-opening, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in river cruising. The ships also offer complimentary alcoholic beverages. Avalon River Cruises is recognized for their all suite concept. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. I think they'd maybe be my first choice, and I know everything is included with them, but I like to get a bargain if I can. Tauck is a family-run company that has shown travelers the world since 1925. There is a wide variety of cabin categories from a 350 square foot suite that sleeps four with a balcony to Category D, the most affordable cabin, which is about 170 square feet, sleeps two, and features small windows. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. AmaWaterways, with over 25 ships, is known for having a smaller amount of passengers on board. Powered by Invision Community. Uniworld stands out immediately for its impressively designed interiors; each ship is themed to the areas that ships sail through. Tauck features a wide variety of itineraries, including themed river cruises and the Tauck Bridges sailings designed for families and multigenerational groups. AmaWaterways requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests. These sleek ships generally host less than 200 passengers and go where giant cruise liners cannot, such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhne, Mekong, Mississippi, and Nile Rivers. As the name implies, the American Queen Steamboat Company uses old-school-style riverboats for their journey. Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. Although children are allowed, the line does not offer extra amenities or perks for kids. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Uniworld requires proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for all their guests, except those under the age of 12, who must have a negative test result within 72 hours of embarkation. Tauck not only has a cruise director onboard its ship, but it has three additional Tauck guides who give the daily briefings, attend the shore excursions (although local experts actually give the tours), hand out spending money or give you a rose to place at the gravesite of a veteran in an American military cemetery. Tauck and Scenic include more in their fares than anyone else, with gratuities, all alcohol, transfers, choice of shore excursions, all dining and Wi-Fi included. Avalon Waterways My cabin (#312) aboard Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine River in Normandy. In addition to food and drink with carefully curated cuisine reflective of the areas being visited many river cruises include land excursions, which is a huge advantage that adds tremendous value. Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 15 Day Rockies Icons and Alaska Cruise. Avalon's vacations are categorized as deluxe on the industry rating scale (budget, first class or deluxe). If you are the type of passenger who doesn't want to reach for your wallet at the end of a trip, both lines are great choices. AmaWaterways operates the finest fleet and provides all-inclusive river cruise vacations on the great waterways of Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. The staff was awesome, and the entire experience was great. On both lines, the main restaurant setup is very similar, with buffets at breakfast and lunch plus live cooking stations and made-to-order menu items. You can also buy wine along the trip and have it served with your meal at no additional cost. The core passengers for both lines are Americans, Canadians, Brits, Australians and passengers from other English-speaking companies, aged 50s to 70s. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities. Which River Cruise Ship Should You Choose? Here Are the Key Differences Toiletries are Viking's own,Freya, and they are lovely. COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required before travel. Expires February 28. I could use Scenic's $379.00 per day per . As expected, the ships serve American cuisines with options for fresh lobster or USDA Prime Beef. I have a few specific questions which I can't seem to find answers for on the websites. River Cruises Guides | Tauck The food was delicious, service was excellent. (Scenic has. Excursion from Paris to Louis XIV's opulent . In river cruising, you often get what you pay for. Scenic also offers cruises inRussia,Vietnamand Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). Both Tauck and Scenic boast spacious, contemporary cabins that are among the most comfortable in river cruising. However, for me probably the highlight was the tours. CC Help Jenn Sail through France and visit the picturesque Old Town in Strasbourg. Typical starting price: $2,199 for 7 nights (per person based on double occupancy $314 per night, all-inclusive), Where they sail: Mississippi, Ohio/Tennessee/Cumberland, Columbia/Snake Rivers, Specialty Cruises: Music festivals, music of the '50s and '60s, bourbon, Cajun/Creole, wine, Kentucky Derby, Amenities (may vary per ship): Wi-Fi, bicycles for shore, library, fitness center, smoothie and juice bar, pool, sun deck, spa, fitness, hiking sticks, Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages (wine, local craft beer, spirits), in-room dining, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, hop on hop off buses onshore, ground transfers, Wi-Fi, daily entertainment. Otherwise, most welcome children but don't offer extra programming for them, and Viking doesn't allow children at all. One place where Viking shines, however, is with its Explorer Suites. If you have a travel agent, please consider contacting him or her first. Both Tauck and Scenic are at the high end of river cruises, in terms of price and inclusions. First, about Tauck. Pros:Having a butler on call is a big perk. The 10 Best River Cruise Lines - Travel + Leisure Those are also offered all day, not just at mealtimes, which is a nice addition. Tauck has its headquarters in the United States, and most of its passengers are American, with a smattering of Brits and other nationalities. It depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. The entry-level cabin, the Petit Suite, is about 188 square feet is larger than most standard rooms, while the Deluxe Suite has French balconies, and opulent Explorer Suites boast large windows. Lower deck Standard Suites are 160 square feet, and Balcony Suites are between 205 and 250 square feet. Riviera **: Riviera's beverage package, which includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, ranges from $99 per person to $299 per person depending on the duration of the cruise. Since Aqua Expeditions ships are so much smaller than the average river cruise liner, they can visit more remote destinations and the excursions reflect that, from watching Amazonian pink dolphins to receiving a blessing from a Buddhist monk while traveling the Mekong. At the top end are large well-appointed suites with two full-sized rooms and great views, measuring about 445 square feet. Solo travelers will appreciate that there are dedicated Solo Traveler Suites with no surcharge for a non-double occupancy booking, which is unheard of with cruising. Expect to sail with Aussies, Brits and other English-speaking nationalities. Whats Included In All-Inclusive River Cruises? Choose Tauck ifyou're fine with a French balcony and want a larger standard cabin. River Cruises: Avalon Waterways River cruising is a very different animal than "big ship" cruising - and I would hate to think that you booked 14+ days on a river boat - only to discover that you hated the the experience. On Tauck, complimentary hot and cold canapes are passed during happy hour. There is a very low crew to guest ratio. Treasures of the Mediterranean - Northbound 2019, See all activities, themes, and interests >, The Romantic Rhine: Amsterdam to Basel featuring Oberammergau - Southbound 2022, Belgium & Holland in Spring - Northbound 2023, Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise - Westbound 2022, The Rhine & Moselle: Canals, Vineyards and Castles, The Danube from the Black Sea to Budapest, Active & Discovery on the Danube (Eastbound), Save $600 off trips to every continent on earth, Redeem anytime before 2023. One of the best vacations I've ever taken was a river cruise. Viking ships sail all of Europe's major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Main, Moselle, Seine, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde and Dutch waterways. Travelstride helps you search and compare 50,000+ expert-planned trips from 1,000+ companies. QUICK STATS AVALON WATERWAYS 2004 Viking vs. Tauck vs. Uniworld vs. Avalon?? - Cruise Critic Community The Panorama Dining Room serves daily four-course la carte dinners along with complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks, or guests can choose the more casual Panorama Bistro or Sky Grill. Do they have bicycles? Get the real picture with both traveler and expert reviews to ensure the trip you book is the right one for you. In Europe, the Danube River and the Rhine River are two of the most popular cruises for first-time river cruisers. Choose Viking ifyou want what has become the industry standard for river cruising, a semi-inclusive experience with a line that does more sailings on more rivers than anyone else. Another difference is that Tauck ships are actually owned and run by Scylla, a Swiss-owned company. The line reduced capacity on its five older vessels, which are smaller, bringing the passenger counts from 118 to 98. RIVER CRUISE BRANDS - Harr Travel It should be worth your time and the price you paid. On Viking, Scandinavian design rules the day, with light wood tones and a modern, clean look throughout. In addition to traditional ships, there are also sleek black U by Uniworld boats, which offer a modern take on river cruising with a younger demographic in mind. Tauck also carries bicycles onboard so if you want to spend time exploring paths along the rivers instead of taking a tour, you can. She also happens to be a shopaholic whose personal mission is to find the coolest and best new things out there. But no matter how different the motivation, Tauck river cruising has a way of bringing everyone of every age and generation together to share . Tauck has outdoor seats at Arthur's but there's no glass buffer, so it's a windier experience. We believe that travel should be easy. "Free choice" dining allows you . On both ships, there's a "secret cellar," with better vintages available if you ask. Viking also has an alternative restaurant, the Aquavit Lounge, but it's much more limited in its menu and only serves food during certain hours. These are the best river cruise lines, sorted by price from low to high. Best River Cruises: Viking, Avalon, Tauck, UniWorld - Insider Viking also has optional shore excursions that it sells in some ports; these excursions generally are limited to small groups and take you into smaller venues or provide immersive experiences that expose passengers to a port's culture and traditions on a deeper, often hands-on, level. AmaWaterways has a diverse selection of excursions, from low key to active experiences. Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,788. There is also Uniworld's Legendary Rhine & Moselle, 13 days. Every cruise line considers dining to be a priority and serves fresh well-balanced meals served alongside regional wines, beers, and beverages. They are smaller than traditional cruise ships and boast more tailored offerings, such as carefully curated cuisine that is reflective of the areas being visited. Tauck has nine ships, with its four newer vessels carrying 130 passengers -- the lowest number of passengers for a ship of its size. Cabins are located across three decks and available in seven categories; the line claims the ship offers more suites than any other European river vessel. TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES. The ships on both cruise lines offer a wide choice of dishes to suit all tastes, including healthy choices and simpler "always available" dishes. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. Notable Excursions (note, these excursions are not included and involve an extra fee): COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all guests and crew. While the suites are about 350 square feet, the standard stateroom is about 170 square feet with fixed windows at the waterline. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. Whats the Best Choice for a MainRiver Cruise? What are the differences between Viking River Cruises & Uniworld River Cruises & AmaWaterways & Tauck & CroisiEurope & Riviera & Scenic? Another thing that sets the Inspiration class of ships apart: "loft" design cabins, which have a raised platform seating area that provides extra space in lower-level cabins. In Memphis, opt for The Elvis Experience with a tour of Graceland. Indulge in regional cuisine on Viking ships flavored with herbs grown in an on-board garden, though familiar classics are always available. One step aboard our modern, luxurious SuiteShips with the grandest views in cruising and youll see how the tides they are a-changin. Choose Tauck ifyou don't want any extra charges at all when you leave the ship, love the convenience of having everything set up for you or want the feeling of a more deluxe experience. The cabins and public areas are also beautifully appointed with art, antiques, hand-painted murals, and luxury linens. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. Tauck - Nile River Cruise On Tauck's four newer ships, you'll find 67 cabins: nine measuring 150 square feet, four measuring 190 square feet, 32 measuring 225 square feet and 22 suites measuring 300 square feet. On a similar seven-night June 2023 cruise on the Danube, Tauck is about $1,000 more expensive than Viking for a standard cabin (this can be even more as Viking offers a lot of promotional deals). A good mid-tier option is theRoyal Balcony suite, which comes with a great view and perks like daily fruit skewers, canapes, and petit fours. Keep in mind that the itineraries are still destination-immersive, so you might not have as much time to use these as you think you will. Tauck, the well-known tour and river-ship operator, retained its No. Tauck River Cruises: Is Tauck the Best River Cruise Line For You? Con: There is a striking difference in style between standard cabins and suites, Knowing these more curated cabins exist might lessen your experience in entry-level rooms. Inspired by you, they've taken everything special about river cruising and made it even better. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you inthe captains seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruisedown the worlds most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. Viking does seem to pay a little more attention to making sure dishes are regional in nature. It's a true gourmet experience, with well-thought-out and unusual wine pairings. In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won't find that here. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. River cruise ships dock near city centers, enabling visitors to explore on their own or take advantage of the array of excursions organized by the cruise line, from going on a strenuous hike to touring a castle, or sipping wine at a vineyard. Each day, you'll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day's adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash. Whats the Best Choice for a River Cruise in Bordeaux? It's open for lunch and dinner, and it's free for everyone. Read on for our look at .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}Viking River Cruises vs. Tauck and some ideas of why you should pick one over the other. Any input from people on this forum would be appreciated. Find the latest travel requirements for your trip. The cruise lines are priced to start at $241 per night, depending on the time of year and the cruise line. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. LauraS We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. Many also have balconies and walk-in closets, and all are above the waterline. Beyond advertising budgets, the lines offer vastly different experiences. While on the Danube, take a dip in legendary thermal baths in Budapest, Hungry. Cons: While most river cruises include excursions, on Crystal, not all of the onshore adventures are free and may require an extra fee. Limited-Time Offers on Avalon Cruises! The line sails on the major European rivers: Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine and Moselle. But it's only because we've taken such pride in bringing you river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony stateroom design, featuring beds with a view. No other fleet of river cruise ships gives you a view of the world like Avalon.